Chris Lane will perform Monday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. Courtesy | Instagram
Big, Big Plans for ‘The Most Popular Fair on Earth’
The 174th Hillsdale County Fair will feature a notable country singer, a demolition derby, tractor pulls, and a rodeo.
Hillsdale County Fair Manager Lori Hull said this year’s biggest change is the return of live music to the fair, which will take place at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds Sept. 22-28.
According to Hull, Monday night will feature a triple header of musical stars. First will be Parma, Michigan, native Jason Cross playing at 5:45 p.m., followed by Noah Hicks at 6:45 p.m., and the headliner Chris Lane at 8 p.m.
Some of Lane’s most popular songs include “Big, Big Plans,” “Take Back Home Girl,” and “I Don’t Know About You.” In 2017, Lane was a nominee for both iHeartRadio’s Best New Country Artist Award and the Academy of Country Music Awards’ New Male Vocalist of the Year.
On the first day of the fair, a new event called the Mud Mitten Race Series Championships will take place at the grandstand at 3 p.m., Hull said.
Mud mitten racing uses mud trucks, or mud boggers as some people call them, the Mud Mitten Race Series group told The Collegian. Competitors race for time or distance in a 150- to 200-foot pit of mud.
There will be free admission for veterans and children 18 years and younger on Monday. Lane will perform at the grandstand at 8 p.m., and doors will open at 5 p.m.
Children’s Day will include free admission for children 18 years and younger on Tuesday. Sponsored by Hillsdale College, the International Demo Derby will take place at the grandstand at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m.
The Hillsdale Stampede and pro rodeo will take place at the fair for the first time on Wednesday from 7-11 p.m. at the grandstand, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.
The Thunder Thursday Truck Pulls will take place at the grandstand at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and the small animal sale will take place at the expo building at 6 p.m. the same day.
Friday is Senior Citizen’s Day, so admission will cost $2 for those 65 years and older. Farm tractor pulls will take place at 9 a.m., and tractor pulls by the National Tractor Pulls Association will happen at the grandstand at 7 p.m.
On the last day of the fair, the International Demo Derby will take place again at the grandstand at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m.
There will be daily glass blowing demonstrations at the fair by Mobile Glass Studios.
“I went to the fair last fall, and even though I don’t like rides, it was still really fun,” senior Erin Mannion said.
Junior Jonathan Williams said the Hillsdale County Fair is a great way for students to enjoy the Hillsdale community outside the college.
“It takes you into the Americana, small town feel and introduces you to things like tractor pulls, really loud and awesome trucks, and farm life,” Williams said. “My friends and I love going every year, making it into a Simpson hall event the last couple years.”
Tickets for the fair are available for purchase at the gate, and gate admission passes are available for purchase ahead of time at the fair office located at 115 S. Broad St.
Tickets cost $7 all week for those 12 years and older, and there will be free admission all week for children 11 years and younger. Weekly passes will be $35 for those 12 years and older.
Tickets for all events are available at etix.com.